Wire and crosstie link assembling machine



May 4 v G. B. SMITH WIRE AND CROSSTIE j LINK ASSEMBLING MACHINE m 6 n 5 w w mm mm 0. R own ammo E Q. Q 8 k. 8

May 4 1926.

G. B. SMITH WIRE AND CROSSTIE LINK ASSEMBLING MACHINE Filed May 9, 1925 S'Sheets-Sheet 2 mm @w R gn pnl'oz: GARY E).SMKTH, M

R km. W fi n Patented May 4, 1926.

UNITED STATES) 1,583,320 PATENT QF icEp GARY B. SMITH, or CHICAGO, ILLINOISgJ-IATTIE vo. SMITH AnMINIsrnA RrX on 0 GARY SMITH, nncnasnn.

wmn nun onossrr-n time ASSEMBLING iv aon rnn.

. Application filed May 9, 1923.. Serial 1%. 63738 To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, irARY B, SMITH, a citizen of United States, residing at Chicago,

in the county of Cook and .Stat eof Illinois,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a ire and Crosstie Link Assembling Machine, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The present invention is a machine for an plying cross'tie links'to a cable oftwiste'd wire or similar member from which bed fabrics and the like are made, and it is theprimary object of the invention to provide a noveland improved machine of that kind,

. which will operate in a practical and efficient manner. I 7 As a further object, the invention aims to provide such a machine which is improved generally in its construction and details, to enhance the utility andefliciency thereof.

Another object is the provision of means for bending portions of the cross tie links into hooks embracing the twisted wire or other similar member and ,for closing said hooks on such member .tosecurely fasten the ,cross tie links thereto one at a time in succession at longitudinally spaced points of 'saidwire or member. r 1

The machine is also designed to bend the terminals of doubled looped cross tie links on the wire or similar member, and for spreading or separating the intermediate portions of the cross tie links.

A still further object is the provision of novel means for guidingand supporting the twisted wire .or similar member for the-application of the cross :tie links thereto.

Another object is the provision of novel means for feeding .or advancing the twisted wire or similar member as the cross tie links are applied thereto.

. A further object is the-provision of an automatic cutter device to cut the finished product, :orthe wire with the cross tielinks thereon, into predetermined lengths.

With the foregoing and .other'objects in *.view, 'which will be apparent ,as the-description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangementof parts, as

being shown in section.

. The invention is illustrated inthe accompanying draw ng, where1n Figure 1 1s a plan vlew of the machine.

devices and corresponding parts, portions r. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectioniO lgthe 11ne'33 of Fig. 1.

the line 4.4l..of Fig. 1.

Fi-g. v5 is an enlarged elevation, ofthecut ter device. i r

"Fig. 6.- is an enlarged elevation of'the cross tie linkbending devicesy; I; j e Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.1 f y a Fig. 8 is a; perspective :view of the-hook bending and anvil member.

Fig. 2 is a detail plan View ofthe bending I 'Fig. & is an enlarged vertical section -oil F '9 is a view corresponding witli 6,

showing a modification;

' The present machine'is substantially the same, in general respects, with the machine or mechanism as disclosed in my Patent No.

1,116,506, grantedNovember 10, 1914,.with" such changes and'improvements as hereinafter described. The machine has the drive shaft 20 driven by a sprocketchain 2 1 or other means, and the. twisted Wire 25;.isfed Q or delivered from a w re; twisting machine,

reel or other source to pass through-the machine'- for the application of the cross tie links thereto. Z j p The machine has areciprocatory feeder or advancer 30 for intermittently. feeding or advancing the wire-31 from which the cross tie links are fashioned, substantially the same as disclosed in Patent ,No. 1,116,506, and the-forwardterminal of thewire, when embrace the wireg25. Theproductionof the cross tie li'nks by thegma chine is; substantially the same as disclosed in said patent,

but in applying the cross tie links I to the wire 25, provisions are made to accomplish the desired results.

doubled, isfedo-r advanced forward-by the feeder oradva-ncer 30 over the hook bending The machine includes tubular ro k posite directions, the gear wheel 40 being of larger diameter than the gear wheel 39 so as to turn the shaft 38 and member 36 through a smaller angle than the shaft 37 and member 33 accordingly. The machine has a rack 41 reciprocated from the drive shaft and meshing with the gear wheel 39 for oscillating the shafts 37 and 38 in proper timed relation, and the wire feeder or advancer 30 is also reciprocated from the shaft 20.

'In running the wire 25 through the machine, a tube 43 is fitted within the tubular rock shaft 37 and extends from the member 33 beyond the opposite end of the shaft 37 to be secured rigidly to the frame 42, so that the tube 43 remains stationary, while the shaft 37 rotates around-said tube. The tube 43 has fitted therein a reciprocatory guide tube 45 through which the wire 25 passes, and that end of the tube 45 adjacent to the member 33 has a reduced extension 46 to project out over the member 33 and to provide a substantial element around which the hooks 35of the cross tie links can be bent, as will hereinafter'more fully appear. A screw or member 49 is engaged in the tube 45 near the end thereof opposite to the member 33 and depends through a longitudinal slot 50 in the tube 43, and said screw or member engages a reciprocatory cross head 51 which is slidable on the tube 43. Said cross head is reciprocated in proper timed relation by a lever 52 of the machine which is oscillatedfrom the shaft 20.

A rod 53 is slidable through the shaft 38 to project over the member 36, and projects from the opposite end of the shaft through the cross head 51, and said rod is secured to the cross head by means of a set screw 54. The rod 53 and tube 45 are thus reciprocated as a unit to be projected over and retracted from the bending members 36 and 33, respectively.

A die 55 is mounted for vertical movement above the bending and anvil member 33, being slotted to engage the pins 56 and '57 carried by the frame, and a lever, 58 is fulcrumed on the pin 56 and is connected by a link 59 with the die 55, for reciprocating said die. A bar 60 is connected to the upper long arm of the lever 58 and extends past thefeecer or advancer 30. Said bar is moved forwardly .by a spring 61, so as to swing the lever 58 to the position as shown movement of said slide.

in Fig. 6, thereby pulling the link 59 upwardly and raising the die 55. The bar 60 carries a pin 62 projecting behind the feeder 30, so that when said feeder is moved to its rearmost position, the feeder contacts with the pin 62, thereby moving the bar 60 rearwardly and swinging the lever 58 toward a vertical position, and this will shove the link 59 downwardly. Said link and lever provide a toggle connection, whereby the die 55 is forced downwardly with considerable pressure in its lowermost position, thelower endof the die being .formed to close and shape the hooks 35 of the cross tie link on the twisted wire.

The die 55 also carries a die 63 for spreading or separating the side portions of the cross tie link 34, and the die 63 is slidably connected with .the die 55 by the pin and slot connections 64, to permit the dies to move relatively to one another. 63 has a wedge 65 projecting downwardly to pass into the link 34 between the members 33 and 36, and said die has shoulders 66 to seat on the side portions of the link when the wedge has been forced down-into the link. A spring 68 is confined between the die 63 and lug 67 on, the die 55, for yieldingly depressing the wedge 65 relatively to the die 55.

The twisted wire 25 is fed or advanced through the tube 45 step by step in synchronism with the feeding or advancing of the wire 31. Thus, a slide 70 in mounted for reciprocation in a bracket or guide 71 of the frame 42, for movement toward and away from the tube 45, and the slide 70 has a tube 73 projecting forwardly and telescop ing into the tube 45, to prevent the wire 25 buckling between the slide 70' and cross tie link applying means when the wire 25 is moved forwardly. A wire gripping lever 74 is pivoted in the slide 70 and has a toothed. jaw 75 to bite the wire 25 which passes through the slide 7 O and tube 73.

The slide 70 is operated simultaneously with the wire feeder 30 so that the twisted wire 25 and cross tie wire 31 are both advanced at the same time. Thus, the lever 74 is connected by a link 76 with a bell crank lever 77 fulcrumed on the frame, and "said lever is connected by a. link 7 8 with the feeder 30. Therefore, when the feeder 30 is advanced, the link 78 swings the lever 77 so that the link 76 is pulled forwardly to ad' The die Vance the slide 70, and the pull on the link i 7 6 will swing the lever'74 to grip the wire 25. thereby advancing it with the slide 70. When the feeder 30 returns, the slide 70 is moved rearwardly, the lever 74 being swung to release the wire 25 during the return The joint'79between the link 76 and lever 7 is preferably adjustable so as to regulate'the amount of '11'1OV6H161113 of the slide 70, in order that the twisted Wire 25 is ,advancedithe desired distance for the properlongitudinalspacing of the crosstie lirt-ks on the twisted wire.

1 'A wire cuttingdevice is provided for auto matically cutting the wire 25 into any do sired lengths-within the limits of adjustment of the device, thereby relieving the operator of this duty, and assuring of accuratecuttmgof the wire-without the-attention of the operator. The tramee2 has'a ledge or sur- Q face -80;oiver which the twisted wire '25 passes with the cross tie links thereon, and a wheel 81,'which serves both as a ratchet wheel and cutter, is mounted-for rotation on a stud 82 carried by the frame. This ratchet wheel 81 "has an annular series of slots or notches '83 to register succession with the ledge 80 for the passage of the wire '25 and cross tie links,

and when the ratchet wheel is rotated one step it will'shear or sever the wire between the respective cutting edge of the wheel 81 and the cutting edge of the ledgeiSO, and the "adjustable to "advance, the ratchet wheel one stepvfor a given adjustment, so that: the defore being out.

next slot 83 is brought into .registration'with th l l 80. 5 e or go The ratchet and cutter wheel 81 is rotated step by step, and the actuating means is sired length or wire will: pass through Ebe- The actuating means includes an arm 84 mounted for rocking movement on the stud 82 and carrying a'zp'awl 85 engagin'githe ratchet teeth of the wheel 81,

and a retra'ctil'e spring 86 is/connected to the arm 84 whereby atotreturn the arm '84 so as to advance the ratchet wheel one step.- A spring buffer 8'? is carried by the frame to stop the arm 84 :and cushion same.- The .arm 84 is moved against the tension of the-spring 86 by means of a ratchet wheel 88 mounted on a stud-'89 carried b'y th'e frame, and said wheel 88 has a. roller'p-in90 to contact with and wipe along the arm 84 which extends partially across the face of the'wheel 88. Thus, as the wheel 88 rotates, the'ipin 90 will swing the ar-m'84 away from the buffer 87 and the'arm is then released so that the springj86 comes into play for returning. said arm. The pawl 85 during such return of the arm'wil'l advance the ratchet wheel 81 one step so 'as to cut the wire -25 and bring the next slot 583 into :registration with the ledge '80, so that thewire can :pass from the machine. An arm 91 mounted onthe stud '89 is connected by a connecting rod or "link92with 'a radially adjustable wrist pin f93'carr-ied by a slide 91 movable in-adiametri'cal slot in a disk 95 secured on a shaft 96-driven by "themachine, said slide 94 being adjusted by a screw '97. Thus, the

1 wrist pin 93 can be adjusted to regulate the throw of the connecting rod 92 and arm 91,

and the smaller the throw, the greater number of rotations of the-shalt 96 there'will'be necessary to actuate the cutting device. The

r raise it.

arm carries :a plurality of pawls "98 leni x gaging the ratchet teeth of the wheel .88, and

so-arranged as toavoid lost motion when the v arm 91 is-swung to advance the wheel :88. A. set of :pawls 99 carried by the frame prevents reverse movement of thewheel 8.8.

The pawlls 98'and 99 arefsozspaced withie spectto the ratchet teeth as to vhave the same .efiect'as if the ratchet teeth were of Considerably shorter length Thus, withthree pawls on the arm 91, one of. them will engage the shoulder of a ratchet tooth before the arm 91 moves a distance greater than one third the length of a ratchet tooth, and by. using a greater number of pawls, the lost motion is reduced proportionately; It thereforerequires a predetermined number. of revolutions of the shaft 96 to actuate the cutting device.

Each time the shaft 96is rotated once, a predetermined length'of twisted wire 25 is delivered through the cutting device, vand,-therelfore, after the shaft 96 has rotated a predetermined number o f'tinies and delivered a predetermined length: of twisted wire with cross" tie linksthereon, the cutting device *iswo'perated automatically'to cutthe' wire. By adjusting the wrist pin 93, the

twisted wire can be out into difi'erent lengths,

inasmuch as the nearerthe wrist pin 1s v-to thecenter lot the disk "95, the less will be the throwfof' the arm 91, and it will require .a

greater number-I of revolutions of the shaft 96 accordingly. In fact,- byradjusting the wrist pin 93to its extreme position outwardly from the center of the disk 95, the wire will be out 'into short lengths of only a tew feet, and in the other extreme, withthe wrist pin near'the center of the disk 95, the throw of thearm '91 can be reduced to airaction of one ofthe teeth ofthe wheel 88', thereby cutting the wire into lengths of manyr'feet,

as high 'asltwo or three times the number of teeth of the'ratchet wheel 88. During the operationof the machine, the wheel 88 is gradually'rotated step 'by step andthegroller pin 90 in moving under the arm 84 will Then, when the predetermined length of wire has been delivered through the cutting device, the arm '84 is released from the pin 90, thereby advancing the andthe cutting device is so adjusted that when thewire 25 has, been delivered with a ratchet wheel 81 one step to cut the wire, -The wire 25 is cut between the cross tie links,

predetermined number of cross tie links thereon, such wire is cut.

The operation of themachine is as iolr orloop 'ot the wire on the member 36, the

zder the twisted Wire 25;. "The cross head :51

is then moved forwardly so as to project the reduced portion 46 of the tube 45 over the as tocut the wire 31, the member 33 iaving a cutting edge 1 00 movable past a cutting edge 101 on the frame under which the wire 31 passes, thereby severing the cross tie link from the wire. The turning movement of the bending member 33" will also bend the terminals of the wire constituting the cross tie link, and such terminals are bent upwardly over and around the extension or reduced portion 46 and twisted wire 25. The tube .45 provides a rigid portion around which the wire of thecross tie link can be bentby the member 33, without CliStOI'ting ordisplacing the wire during the bending of the hooks 35. The bending member 33 has bevelled lugs 102 adjacent to the cutting edge 70 and said lugs have converging faces to force and hold the terminals or books 35 of the wire together between the lugs when bending the hooks. The member 36 is rotated in a direction reverse to that of the member 33, thereby bendingthe loopupwardly at an angle beyond the rod 53, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The rack 41 is then retracted, so as to' turn the shafts 37 and 38 and members 33 and 36 to normal position, and the cross head 51'is returned to withdraw the tube 45 and rod 53 from over the members 33 and 36. Then, when the feeder returns'to its rearmost position it strikes the pin 62, thereby moving the rod 60 rearwardlyslightly, and swing the lever 58 to force the die 55 down; This will close the hooks of the cross tie links 34 tightly on the twisted wire 25, and the members 33 will serve as an anvil while the hooks are being crushed or bent down around the twisted wire,.the tube having been withdrawn from the hooks 35 so that they can be closed to tightly and frictionally embrace the twisted wire. lVhen the die is moved downwardly, the wedge of the die 63 is forced down intothe link 34, thereby separating or spreading the side portions of said link, as seen in Fig. 7 and the shoulders 66 seat on the side portions of the link 34 just before the die 55 bends the hooks 35 down, the die .63 yielding so as to hold the link 34 under pressure on the members 33 and 36', to prevent said link being displaced during the bending of the. hooks 35 by the die 55. The member 33 has the lugs or stops 103 on the face thereof between which the terminals of the cross ,tie link are disposed during 'the descent of the die 63 to :prevent the wedge 65 from spreading'or separating the terminals or hooks 35 of the wire. The slide 70 is returned during the return movement of the feeder 30,'and when the feeder 30 starts forward to advance the wire 25 for producing the neXt cross tie link, the rod 60 is moved forwardly by the spring 61, there by raising the dies 55 and 63, and the twisted wire 25 being advanced one step will carry the cross tie link with it off of the members 33 peated as before, so as to apply a cross tie link to the twisted wire at predetermined longitudinally spaced points of the twisted 11's.

The cable or wire turned out by the ma? chine, with the cross tie links thereon, can

then be fabricated into bed springs. The automatic cutter device willcut the twisted wire into predetermined lengths, for the convenient working of the lengths of wire into the bed fabric. I

Fig. 8 illustrates a modification used for applying flat wire and other cross tie links to the twisted wire or cable 25. The member 33 bends one end of the link 34 around the twisted wire 25 to form a hook 35 at one end of the cross tie link, which is closed tightly on the twisted wire by the die 55 when the tube45 is retracted, and the member 36 bends the other end of the link around the rod 53 toform a hook 35" at the other or free end of the cross tie link. This arrangement can be used for applying fiat wire and othercross tie links to the and 36. The operation is then re twisted wire, 'such links having hooks at.

both ends. The die'63 is omitted, and the operation is otherwise the same as hereinbefore described, excepting that the member 36 turns through a greater angle to bend the corresponding end of the link into a hook 35 v 7 Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is Y 1. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing wire, a tube through which the wire is advanced, means for supplying cross tie links beyond one end of the tube, a bending member operable at said end of thetubeto turnaround the wire for bending the cross tie links on the wire, said tube being projected for the bending of the cross tie links around it when they are bentaround the wire.

2. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing wire, a tube through which the wire is advanced, means for supplying cross tie links beyond one end of the tube, a bending member operable at said end of the tube to turn around the wire for bending the cross-tie links on the wire, said tube being projected for the bending of the cross tie links around itwhen Comprising means for advancing wire, a tube through which the wire is advanced, means for supplying cross tie'links one at a time at one end of said tube, and a bending member movable around the wire at said end of the tube for bending the cross tie links into hooks around the wire, said tube being projected for the bending of the cross tie links around the tube.

4. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing wire, a tube through which the wire is advanced, means corresponding end of the shaft for bending projected porfor supplying cross tie 'linksone at a time at one end of said tube, a bending member movable around the wire at said end of the tube for bending the cross-tie links into hooks around th-ewire, said tube being projected for the bending of the cross tie links around the tube, and a die operable to bend the hooks of the cross tie links closed on the wire when said tube is retracted.

5. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing wire, a

member reciprocated to be projected and retracted, a bending member mounted for rotary movement, the first named member being projected and the bending member rotated to bend cross tie links around the projected portion of the first named m'em-' ber and wire, and a die operable when said -member is retracted and the bending member returned for pressing the bent portions of the links against the bending member to close said bentportions on the wire.

6. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing wire, a tubular shaft through which the wire is advanced, means for supplying cross tie links for application to the wire at one end of said shaft, a bending member carried by said end of the shaft to bend the cross tie links around the wire, and means for guiding and supporting the wire for the bending of the cross tie links therearound.

7. A machine of the-character described comprising means for advancing wire, a tube, a tubular shaft rotatable around said tube, means for supplying cross tie links for application to the wire atone end of said tube, a member reciprocated in said tube to be projected and retracted at said end thereof, and a bending member carried 'by'the the cross tie links around the tion of said member-and wire. 7

8. A machine of the character described comprising means for advancing wire, a tube, a tubular shaft rotatable around said tube, means forsupplying cross tie links for application to the wire at one end of said tube, a member reciprocated in said tube to be projected and retracted at said end thereof, a bending member carried by the corresponding end of the shaft for bending the cross tie links around the projected'portion ofsaid member and wire, and a die for pressing the bent portions of the cross tie links down on said bending member when the first named member is retracted and the bending member returned, to close the bent portions of the cross tie links on the wire.

9. A machine of the character described.

comprising means for advancing wire, a

tube, a tubular shaft rotatable around/said tube, means for supplying cross tie links for application to the chainlinks at one'end'of said tube, a tube reciprocated in said tube and through, whichthe wire is advanced, a-

bending member carried by the corresponding end of the shaft for bending the cross tie links around the second named tube andwire, the second named tube being projected for the bending of the cross tie links therearound and then being retracted, and a die for pressing the bent portions of the cross tie links against said bending member when the second named tube 'is retracted and the bending member returned, to close the bent portions of the cross tie links on the wire.

11. A machine of the character described comprising a member to be projected and retracted, a bending member mounted for turning movement to bend across tie link around the projected portion of'said' member and around wire, and a die for pressing the bent portion of the linkclosed around the wire against the bending member when the first named member is retracted bending member returned.

12. A machine of the character. described '7 comprising a tube, cross tie link'applying means operable at one end of the tube, a reciprocatory slide having a tube through which wire passes, said tubes having a telescopic connection to prevent the wire buckling between said slide and means, and means carried by the slide for gripping the wire to advance it past said means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature." .7

and the GARY B'. SMITH. 

